One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 31
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One Summer Evening Part 31

Austin almost choked on the anger that rose up the back of his throat,

which gave Randall time to add, "Things haven't gone quite as smoothly as I'd hoped."

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"I know you're upset "

"That's putting it mildly. Why the hell would you need more money after the chunk I've already given you? I agreed to pay a certain amount up front, which is what I did. Unless the deal's done, why come back for more now?"

Randall was sweating profusely which increased Austin's fury and worry.

"Look, forget I said anything."

"Randall, don't play games with me. It's not smart."

"What are you going to do, beat the shit out of me?"

"That has occurred to me." Austin's voice and eyes were as hard as iron.

"For more reasons than one."

Randall visibly blanched.

"Look, just forget I said anything, okay?"

"Unless you're asking for money on a personal level?"

Randall seemed to wilt with relief.

"That's what I was about to do, only you jumped the gun and didn't let

me finish. So how 'bout it?

Will you throw a few more dollars in the pot for personal use?"

"Sorry, no can do."

Randall let go of an expletive.

"Hell, man," Austin said, "you knock down a ton right here in this

office.

How could you possibly be broke?"

Randall pitched back his head and laughed a bitter laugh.

Austin frowned.

"Mary Jane mentioned you exploded when she asked you about doing some

more work on the house. Is that what your money woes stem from?"

"Partly. And there's not a goddamn thing wrong with the house the way it is.

Mary Jane just can't stop spending. There's not enough money on this

earth to keep that woman happy, or our girls. Like mother, like

daughters."

"And now you've added a mistress, which takes more and bigger bucks."

"Who said she was my mistress?"

Austin snorted.

"Give me a break."

Randall tensed and turned his back.

"So, is the deal still intact? That's my main concern."

"Of course it is," Randall said quickly, facing Aus- tin once again.

"Well, it had better be. I won't take kindly to losing company money

because your mind's on your dick instead of your business."

Another flush stained Randall's face.

"Everything's going according to schedule, I promise."

"Good, then we'll let it go at that and end this chat on a positive

note."

Randall swallowed.

"Fine."

"Oh, just so you'll know where I'm coming from, Cassie's working in

Wilma's place at the hotel, and she's not in favor of buying the land.In fact, she's demanding I kill the deal."

Randall's eyes took on a terrified look, which raised another red flag.

Still, Austin felt he had to trust Randall until he had a concrete reason not to. Randall was having an affair, which didn't bode well for his personal integrity, but Austin certainly had no right to pass judgment or cast stones.

He had his own skeletons, his affair with Cassie being the biggest of

them.

"Can she stop it?" Randall asked, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

"Nope, not if there're no screw ups on your part."

"Not to worry."

"I won't, then, and you don't worry about Cassie. I can handle her."

"Why is she against building a new hotel? You'd think she'd be overjoyed

at the prospect."

"She wants to refurbish the Jasmine Hillcrest and hold off on building.

But don't worry. Wilma's on my side." Austin paused and trapped Randall's gaze.

"You didn't ask for this advice, but I'm going to give it anyway. I

suggest you clean yourself up and start looking like the attorney you'resupposed to be, instead of someone who slept in a garbage dump allnight." Randall winced.

"That's a low blow." Austin smiled, though it never reached his eyes.

"Looks like that's your problem--too many low blow jobs."

The veins stood out on Randall's neck, and Austin knew his needle had

hit its mark. He didn't care. He had to do what was necessary to protectthe company's interests. If that meant insulting his friend, then so beit.

"When the final papers are ready, call me."

"That won't be for a while yet," Randall said to his back.

At the door Austin stopped and turned around.

"Just a reminder, counselor, it had better be your mistress who gets

screwed and not me."

FR1;Sixteen nave you lost your ever-loving mind?"